Doorcheck



Nov. I2, 1929. M. H. ToNcRAY DOORCHEGK Filed Jari. 10, 1927 PatentedA Nov. 12, 1929 :UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MILLARI H. TONCRAY, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 HUDSON MOTOR CAR l COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION 0F MICHIGAN DOORCHECK Application filed January 10, 1927. Serial No. 160,202.

This invention relates to door checks, and more particularly to the provision of means for limiting the opening movement of a vehicle door and thereby relieving the door 5 hinges of the strain encountered by suddenly throwing open the door.

When doors of vehicles are opened in the presence of a strong wind, the wind often throws the door open with considerable force and entirely out of ones control with the result that considerable strain is brought upon the door hinges. In order to safeguard against such occurrences, various expedients have been employed, such as the provision of a flexible strap of rubber or the like the ends of which are secured respectively to the door and to the body of the vehicle. It has also been suggested to provide for this purpose a rigid link which operates in a slot in the door and either is pivotally connected with the body'or operates in a slot therein. The flexible straps employed for this purpose, heretofore, have been cumbersome and unsightly and have deteriorated rapidly due to the nature of the material of which they were constructed. On the other hand, rigid devices which have been employed for this purpose become worn or for other reasons become loose so as to rattle and squeak.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved device for limiting the opening movement of a door which shall be of simple construction, and easily manufactured and assembled on the door, which is of inconspicuous appearance and is normally housed and concealed, and which is fixed to the part by which it is carried and otherwise arranged so that it will not wear with continued use and cause squeaks and rattle during movement of the vehicle;

In accordance with the invention, the door post or body hinge pillar is provided with an opening for permitting free movement of an arm of rigid construction. This arm is rigidly secured at one end to the adjacent door pillar and is arranged and suitably constructed to move freely through the opening in the door post when the door swings. The other end of the arm is provided with suitable mea-ns, such as a hook-shaped member, for

engaging an interior portion of the door post and thereby limiting the opening movement of the door.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings z in which,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a door assembly embodying the invention;

gig. 2 is a horizontal section of the same; an

Fig. 3 is a similar view of a door assembly embodying a modified form of the invention.

In Figs. 1 and 2, a door assembly illustrative of the invention is shown which is particularly suitable for vehicles andv comprises a hollow shcetmetal door post or hinge pillar 5 to which body panels 7 are secured by any well-known and suitable manner. A door pillar 8 of rigid sheet'metal, such as steel, carrying the door panels 9' and 10 is suitably connected to the door post 5l as by hinges 11 secured thereto by bolts 12. The wall of the door post, if desired, may be offset slightly to provide room for the hinges so that the door may close snugly. An arm 13 of steel, or other suitable material Lof considerable strength and rigidity, is positioned within a slot 14 in the door pillar 8 and is rigidly secured tothe interior of the illar by a screw 15. An opening 16 is provided in the door post 5 with 'sufficient clearance to permit movement of the arm 13 therethrough without contact therewith as the door swings. A stop device, such as a hook-shaped member 17 is provided at the free end of the arm 13 and is adapted to engage the wall of the pillar 5 adjacent the opening 16 to limit the opening movement of the door. The opening 16 in the door post is so positioned and the arm 13 so constructed and arranged, such for example as by curvature approximately coaxial with the hinge pivot, as to permit said arm to move freely within, the opening 16 as rthe door swings, thereby preventing rattling and eliminating any wear either of the arm 13 or upon the sides of the opening.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings, a door assembly is illustrated embodying further and modied features of. the invention.- This door assembly comprises e hollow sheet metal door post or hinge piller 20 to which a door cover to protect it from the elements. An

arm 26 is suitably secured at one end to the i interior of the pillar 2l. by a screw 27 so` asto project from the door through en opening 28 in the door post 20 and is constructed end arranged to :move freely through the opening. 28 as the door swings. rllhe free end of the arm 26 is provided with a stop 29, such as a hook-shaped member, which is adaptedto enan'e the wall oi the post 20 which is formed with aA portion 30 inclined or extending towards'the stop 29 to receive the thrust ot the latter edgewise.

lt will be seen that as the door is opened the arm 13'A and the arm 26 ol the door aS.- seniblies illustrated respectively in Figs. l end 3, will each move within its respective opening in the door post without engagement with the edges thereof until the stop4 or'hooli-shaped member engages en interior portion or the door' oost to limit the opening movement of the door. ln these constrnctions, which are intended as merely illustrative of the invention, no parts of the door check` ere in engagement with the door post until the door is opened the manimum allowable extent. By such provisions, weer oi parts' is eliminated with the result that there are no squealis or rattles vproduced. It will be further noted that the door check provided in accordance with the invention is zof extremely simple construction which may be easily arranged and assembled upon any door assembly of this tyre i,

`lWhat l claim 1s: u i

l. In e vehicle body, in combination, a door post, a door, a hinge connecting said yarts, v,one of said parts being hollow and raving an opening inits wall, a rigid arm rigidly secured to the other or" said parts and constructed and arranged to move freely in said opening, and a stop device caliried by said arm and adapted to engage the wall of said hollow part adjacent said opening when the door is fully opened to limit the opening movement thereof.

2. In a vehicle body, in combination, a door post, a door, a hinge connecting said parts, one of said parts being hollow and having en opening in its wall, a rigid arm rigidly secured to the other of saidpa-rts and constructed and arranged to move reely in said opening without engaging the edges thereof as said door is swung on seid hinge, and a stop device carried by said arm and l adapted to engage the wall of said hollow part adjacent said opening when the door meente is ully opened-to limit the opening movement thereof.

3., ln e vehicle body, in combination, e door post, a door, a hinge connecting said parts, one of said parts being oi hollow sheet metal construction and having en opening in its wall, e rigid erin rigidly secured to the other of said parts and constructed and arranged to move freely in said opening, and a stop device carried by said arm and adapt'- ed to engage the wall o said hollow part adjacent said opening when the door is fully opened to limit the opening movement thereof, the sheet metalv oi the portion oi the wall engaged by said stop device being presented edgewise thereto.,

ln testimony whereof l efiin my signature.

l/lllilliRD il, TNCRAY. 

